Zubcic and Zubcic and Anor

In the matter of Zubcic and Zubcic and Anor, Rees J of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia considered an application concerning interim property settlement. The dispute involved a husband and wife, with the court being asked to make orders regarding the distribution of funds for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of the matter for trial.

The primary legal issue before the court was the appropriate mechanism for providing interim financial assistance to the husband to cover legal costs. This involved determining the specific sum to be released and how those funds should be managed and applied by the respective legal representatives of the parties.

Rees J ordered that the husband and wife take all necessary steps to effect the payment of $300,000 from a controlled monies account held by Abrams Turner Whelan, Solicitors, to the trust account of the husband’s solicitors, Watts McCray. Of this sum, not less than $270,000 was to be retained by Watts McCray and applied towards the costs of preparing the matter for trial.